国际英语新闻:Kenyan president vows to enhance drought response

NAIROBI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday vowed to enhance drought mitigation measures to ensure all those affected are assisted.

Kenyatta said the ongoing food and water relief, animal off-take and cash transfer programs are constantly being enhanced to support Kenyans to overcome the current hard conditions.

"I take this opportunity to assure all Kenyans that the government is doing all that is in its power to ensure that people in need are assisted," he said in Nairobi upon the delivery of donations from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in support of the government's drought mitigation measures.

The food security situation is expected to deteriorate in most parts of Kenya as its meteorological authority in February predicted depressed rainfall in the period from March to May.

The East African nation declared drought a national disaster in February, inviting international community to help in addressing the situation.

The president said he appreciates foreign and local partners who have responded to the government's appeal for support after he declared the drought a national disaster.

The government has already doubled relief efforts to cover 3 million people, up from the initial 1.3 million.

Kenyatta said his government has also enhanced water trucking in the 23 arid and semi arid counties most affected by the drought.

The president recently gave a directive for all relief efforts to be streamlined under the Devolution Ministry to ensure synergy in delivering aid to needy Kenyans.